May 2025 news

 This page:       SM Bulletin     |     Death of Fr Jim Hargrave SM     |     District Circular     |     Day of Memories and Reflection     |     First Vietnamese postulant     |     Pacific News     

SM Bulletin

This week's SM Bulletin contains news from Rome, St Peter Chanel celebrations and Archbishop Susitino Sionepoe as new Archbishop of Nouméa. To download click here or go to Members' Page.                                 [May 03]

Death of Fr Jim Hargrave SM

 After a short period in palliative care at Ashgrove, Qld, Fr Jim Hargrave died peacefully on May 02, aged 90. He had been a priest for 62 years after pioneering the role of chaplain in Marist schools in 1975. In summer holidays Fr Jim assisted with missionary work in Thailand, Philippines and Cameroon and in recent years was chaplain to the Marist Brothers' community at Ashgrove. For a summary of his life, click here. May he rest in peace.                           [May 02]

District Circular

The April issue of the Marist Fathers Australia District Circular is available at the Members' Page.                        [May 02] 

Day of Memories and Reflection

On Apr 26 the Sisters of St. Joseph held a ‘Day of Memories & Reflection’ at Baulkham Hills to remember and celebrate the arrival of the Mary Queen Sisters in Australia from Vietnam fifty years ago and only a few days before the fall of Saigon. Several Marist Fathers, notably Fr Tony King and then-provincial, Fr Peter Guiren, played a significant role in the arrival and on-going support of the Sisters.

The event began with a gathering of the original group of Mary Queen sisters and the Josephites who were novices at Baulkham Hills at that time. The gathering also included some Mary Queen sisters who joined the Josephites.  Some of the Mary Queen sisters had studied at CTU, Hunters Hill, a further involvement with Marists. Special mention was made of the Mary Queen sisters who later travelled from Australia to America to join their sisters who had escaped from Saigon to the USA. 

An afternoon session included other Josephites and women who may have left their respective congregations. The Eucharist celebrated by Frs Paul Sullivan and Andrew Murray concluded the day.  Fr Paul acknowledged the significance of this event in the history of the church and nation and thanked all the women present for their on-going commitment and ministry.                             [May 02]

First Vietnamese postulant

During the Eucharistic celebration in honour of Saint Peter Chanel, first Marist saint and martyr, Joseph Dinh Vu Nguyen from Vietnam began his postulancy program in the Society of Mary. Joseph is a member of the St Peter Chanel formation community in Davao, Philippines, and is the first Vietnamese candidate to join the program. Welcome, Joseph!                              [May 01] 

 Pacific news

The latest issue of the Oceania News Bulletin reports on Marist happenings throughout the Pacific in April. These include the visitation of Vanuatu and New Caledonia, new Archbishop of Noumea, Easter and St Peter Chanel's day.  To download click here or go to Members' Page.                        [May 01]